If you’ve ever wondered can you block someone on YouTube, you’re not alone. As a creator or viewer, you’re probably tired of trolls, repeat spammers, or people who seem to hijack your comment section. YouTube keeps updating its community tools, and it’s important to know what “blocking” actually does today.
In this article, you’ll learn what blocking means on YouTube, how to hide or block unwanted users, what you can and can’t do, and how to keep your channel or viewing experience free of negativity.
What Does “Blocking” Mean on YouTube?
YouTube doesn’t have a traditional “block user” option like other social platforms. Instead, it offers tools that limit how someone can interact with you.
When you block or hide someone on YouTube:
- That person can no longer comment on your channel’s videos or message you during live chat.
- They can’t mention you in comments or post spam under your videos.
- However, they can still view your public videos or playlists. Blocking does not stop them from watching your content.
So yes, you can block someone on YouTube—but it’s more like muting them from interacting with your content rather than locking them out completely.
Why You Might Want to Block or Hide Someone
There are many reasons to block or hide a user on YouTube.
- To stop harassment or negative comments
- To remove spammers and bots from your comment section
- To keep your community friendly and positive
- To moderate behavior during live chat sessions
Studies show that over 60% of creators have dealt with repeated spam or harassment in their comments. Using the hide or block feature gives you more peace of mind and helps you maintain control over your online space.
How to Block or Hide a User on YouTube (Desktop & Mobile)
Here’s how to do it step by step:
On Desktop (for channel owners):
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Click Settings in the left menu.
- Select Community, then go to the Automated Filters tab.
- Under Hidden Users, paste the channel link or name of the person you want to block.
- Click Save to apply changes.
- Their previous comments will disappear from your videos, and they won’t be able to comment again.
On Mobile (YouTube app):
- Open YouTube and go to the user’s channel or comment.
- Tap the three dots (⋮) next to their name or comment.
- Choose Hide user from my channel or Block user.
- The user will immediately lose the ability to comment or chat on your channel.
For Live Chat Moderation:
- During a live stream, tap the person’s message in chat.
- Select Block or Hide user to remove them from chat.
- They won’t be able to send further messages during your stream.
What Happens After You Hide or Block Someone
Once blocked, a few key things happen automatically:
- Their existing comments on your videos are hidden.
- Future comments from them won’t appear on your channel.
- They can still view your public videos, but they can’t interact.
- They aren’t notified that you’ve blocked them—it’s done silently.
Blocking someone won’t affect how your videos appear to others, but it will keep your comment section clear of unwanted interactions.
Important Limitations and Workarounds
Blocking someone on YouTube has a few limitations.
- You can’t completely stop a user from watching your public videos.
- If you want to restrict viewing access, you must set your videos to Private or Unlisted.
- The term “block” was updated to “hide users from my channel” in recent versions of YouTube.
- Regular viewers can’t fully block another person, but they can reduce visibility of certain channels by selecting Don’t recommend channel from the video menu.
Some browser extensions claim to let you block entire channels from appearing in your recommendations, but be careful using third-party tools. It’s always safer to stick with YouTube’s official options.
When You Should Use Blocking—and When to Try Other Tools
If you’re a creator, blocking or hiding users helps you maintain a professional and safe environment. But if you’re just a viewer, there are other tools you can use to customize your experience.
For viewers:
- Tap the three-dot menu on any video and choose Don’t recommend channel.
- Mark certain videos as Not interested to fine-tune your recommendations.
- Clear or pause your watch history to reset YouTube’s algorithm.
For creators:
- Enable comment moderation under YouTube Studio → Settings → Community.
- Add specific words or phrases to your Blocked words list to filter comments automatically.
- Assign trusted moderators to handle live chats and comments during streams.
How to Unblock or Unhide Someone on YouTube
If you ever change your mind or accidentally block someone, it’s easy to reverse.
On Desktop:
- Go to YouTube Studio.
- Click Settings → Community → Hidden Users.
- Remove the user’s name from the list.
- Click Save.
On Mobile:
- Visit the user’s channel.
- Tap the three-dot menu.
- Choose Unblock user or Unhide user from my channel.
Keep in mind that if you unhide someone, their previous comments won’t automatically reappear—they remain hidden unless re-posted.
Pro Tips to Keep Your YouTube Experience Safe and Positive
Here are extra ways to maintain control and reduce negativity:
- Review your hidden users list monthly.
- Use YouTube’s Held for review feature to check filtered comments.
- Encourage respectful discussions by posting a short comment policy under your videos.
- If you stream regularly, appoint moderators who can handle spam quickly.
- Adjust your community guidelines to promote healthy engagement.
These habits don’t just make your comment section cleaner—they also improve audience trust and viewer satisfaction.
Can You Completely Block Someone From Viewing Your Videos?
No, you can’t fully stop someone from viewing public videos. YouTube’s design prioritizes open access, so blocking limits interaction but not visibility. However, you can choose to upload videos as:
- Private: Only people you invite can watch.
- Unlisted: Only people with the link can view.
- Members-only: If you use channel memberships, you can make videos exclusive to paying subscribers.
These privacy settings offer more control if your goal is to restrict access rather than just silence comments.
Why Blocking Matters for Channel Growth
A clean, respectful comment section helps your channel’s credibility. When new visitors see a toxic comment thread, they’re less likely to subscribe or engage. Blocking a few bad actors can help maintain a professional image.
Plus, YouTube’s algorithm considers engagement quality. Too many spammy or flagged comments can signal low-quality interactions. By blocking problematic users, you help YouTube understand that your channel fosters a better community.
Final Thoughts
Yes—you can block someone on YouTube, though it mainly means hiding their comments rather than banning them entirely. For most creators, it’s enough to protect your community from spam or harassment. Combine blocking with moderation tools, privacy settings, and clear community rules to keep your space safe and enjoyable.
And if you’re a regular viewer, remember: you can’t silence everyone, but you can teach YouTube what you like and don’t like. A few small steps can make your feed and experience much calmer.